Chronograph for £150?

[So]

My son has just received an Invicta Speedway and, despite it looking like a chronograph, it isn't really. To use the pushers they have to be unscrewed first and the second hand is not a stopwatch, it is just a second hand.

Ssssso, it's going back to Amazon.

Can anyone suggest a good looking 40mm (ish) proper chrono for £150? £200 tops.

Many thanks.

[8Ace]

Unscrewing the pushers isn't necessarily a bad thing as it prevents water ingress - see various Rolex Daytona style watches.

Best bet at that price is something with a Seiko mecaquartz - such as this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Seiko-Chronograph-Quartz-...

The central second hand advances 5 times per second so it looks much more like a mechanical chrono as it goes round.

[So]

8Ace said:

Unscrewing the pushers isn't necessarily a bad thing as it prevents water ingress - see various Rolex Daytona style watches.

Best bet at that price is something with a Seiko mecaquartz - such as this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Seiko-Chronograph-Quartz-...

The central second hand advances 5 times per second so it looks much more like a mechanical chrono as it goes round.

Nice but it's 45mm and he is only a youth.

[8Ace]

So said:

8Ace said:

Unscrewing the pushers isn't necessarily a bad thing as it prevents water ingress - see various Rolex Daytona style watches.

Best bet at that price is something with a Seiko mecaquartz - such as this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Seiko-Chronograph-Quartz-...

The central second hand advances 5 times per second so it looks much more like a mechanical chrono as it goes round.

Nice but it's 45mm and he is only a youth.

Blimey - missed that, that's enormous.

[DeWar]

I agree that I wouldn’t look past Seiko for sub £200 because everything else you can get will be a fashion watch that won’t be as robust.

I like this one that fits the size and price requirements with a rather fetching dial...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Seiko-Chronograph-Quartz-...

[liner33]

The Parnis Daytona ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uu4FFiJ46fo

Accurist do some nice ones as well , solid reliable watches

[So]

DeWar said:

I agree that I wouldn’t look past Seiko for sub £200 because everything else you can get will be a fashion watch that won’t be as robust.

I like this one that fits the size and price requirements with a rather fetching dial...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Seiko-Chronograph-Quartz-...

That sounds like good advice and there are some nice ones on Amazon.

[One Shot]

liner33 said:

The Parnis Daytona ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uu4FFiJ46fo

Accurist do some nice ones as well , solid reliable watches

I bought a brand new Parnis Daytona for £75, UK supplied (Ebay), it's the correct 39mm size and uses the Seiko Mecaquartz movement. I also have a Rolex GMT and a Breitling Chrono, but I'm very impressed with the Parnis.

[nikaiyo2]

Seagull 1963 great watches that can be got for £150 ish, proper hand wound mechanical chronograph

[RushDom]

Easy recommendation from me - that would be the Hoffman Racing 40, a mecaquartz 40mm, sapphire crystal. It's currently £150.07 (sorry it's over budget :P).

Very clearly inspired by old school Daytona models.

https://hoffmanwatches.com/pages/racing-40

[r159]

Casio edifice, citizen, pulsar military chronograph, swatch night flight.

[mickyc79]

RushDom said:

Easy recommendation from me - that would be the Hoffman Racing 40, a mecaquartz 40mm, sapphire crystal. It's currently £150.07 (sorry it's over budget :P).

Very clearly inspired by old school Daytona models.

https://hoffmanwatches.com/pages/racing-40

Great shout! That yellow one is very tempting!

OP, how about a vintage russian Poljot 3133?
They can be had just within budget if you're lucky? Reliable,cool, history behind them? I suppose it depends on what type of yoof he is though....something like this??

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264722713799

[The_Doc]

Swatch Irony Chrono

I know they are seen as slightly low rent sometimes, but some of them are utterly lovely.

https://shop.swatch.com/en_gb/catalogsearch/result...

EG:

[So]

Thanks for your suggestions chaps. As always greatly appreciated.

But after a lot of research what we are starting to realise is that 99% of bracelet chronographs are going to be too big.

Chronos on a strap wear differently, but he has one of those.

I am trying to steer him towards a 35-36mm steel bracelet watch. NON CHRONO.

[emperorburger]

Something like a Skagen may wear better on his wrist

40mm Steel Chrono

https://www.watches2u.com/watches/skagen/skw6360-m...

[So]

emperorburger said:

Something like a Skagen may wear better on his wrist

40mm Steel Chrono

https://www.watches2u.com/watches/skagen/skw6360-m...

I agree, that design would work better.

[stumpage]

DeWar said:

I agree that I wouldn’t look past Seiko for sub £200 because everything else you can get will be a fashion watch that won’t be as robust.

I like this one that fits the size and price requirements with a rather fetching dial...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Seiko-Chronograph-Quartz-...

I have my one on today. A very good watch for the price.




And with the original strap.

[So]

stumpage said:

DeWar said:

I agree that I wouldn’t look past Seiko for sub £200 because everything else you can get will be a fashion watch that won’t be as robust.

I like this one that fits the size and price requirements with a rather fetching dial...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Seiko-Chronograph-Quartz-...

I have my one on today. A very good watch for the price.




And with the original strap.

Yup, but you're a man and it looks huge. He is a youth and it will look like a dinner plate on his wrist.

[mr_fibuli]

Seiko 7T92-0DW0?



It's quite small at 38mm, and looks a bit like a Speedmaster Date, even down to the bracelet. I think they are designed for the Japanese market, so any you find tend to be imports on eBay.

Sadly it doesn't have the meca-quartz movement, but it does have the "correct" chrono layout with small running seconds, and the 1/10 second counter is quite cool.

I've got one, but I've hardly worn it as I'd prefer something a smidge bigger.

[Stunters]

A Roue CHR model might be a nice option. £219 on this site, but under £200 with the 15% off code TBM15:

https://www.timebyme.com/uk/roue-chr-one-black-chr...

I think the CHR One is the nicest colour combination but the others are also good. 41.5mm case width, but very thin and also well-made for the money. I don't have a CHR model but I do have two other Roue models with the same case dimensions, I'm wearing the HDS One today!

I think the Swatch Irony is also a good shout, above.